System for gathering and storing internal and peripheral components configuration and initialization information for subsequent fast start-up during first execution of fast start-up

ABSTRACT

A method of computer start-up, using the configuration information of the internal and peripheral components of the computer system and information required for executing initialization of these components, and performing fast test and initialization of the components of the system. The information is pre-stored in the computer system. The present invention can perform fast start-up of the computer, significantly reduce the time needed to start up the computer, improve the efficiency of start-up of the computer, and save the waiting time for users.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method of computer start-up, andparticularly to a method of performing fast test and initialization ofthe system components of a computer during the start-up.

BACKGROUND ART

Currently, computer technology is rapidly developing, the speed of CPU,the speed of bus, the capacity of storage device, the integration levelof elements and devices, as well as the costs of components have beenimproving significantly. Software technology is also developingdramatically evolving from the initial DOS into several generations ofthe WINDOWS operating system, and there are various application softwarehaving sophisticated functionality. However, the start-up time of thepersonal computer system becomes longer and longer, without anysubstantive development. In conventional BIOS, many operations arenecessary during system start-up. It takes about 40 seconds to oneminute to test the kernel components of the system first, to initializethe peripherals and to warm up the hard disk of the computer finally.The system takes long start-up time for many reasons, with the increaseof the speed of the components and the enlargement of the capacity, thedevices integrated become numerous as well, which making the workload ofand the requirements to the BIOS (basic input and output system) of thecomputer higher and higher in order to manage individual components; forexample, the initialization of a large amount of power supply managementand individual components, and the arduous tasks of the compression anddecompression of the BIOS per se. A poll among the clients reveals thata faster speed of the system start-up is often expected by users of PC,whether it is a cold start or a waking-up from the waiting state orsleep state.

In practical cases, a system ordinarily configured by a user isrelatively stable, and its components are not frequently changed, itwill be unnecessary to redetect the existence of those components andtheir configuration at each start-up, since it will waste a lot of timefor the user to wait the start-up of the computer. The start-up of acomputer system shall pass through a series of test and initializationoperations. For example, in the POST (Power-On Self Test) procedure ofpersonal computers, it is necessary to perform the test andinitialization of the memory, CPU, hard disk, optical disk drive, PCIplug-in card, main control chip and a plurality of peripherals. Theproper initialization of those components is the basis of the normaloperation of the computer system, therefore is necessary. However, for aspecific computer of a specific user, what are tested and initialized atpower-on of the computer every day are the same group of memories, thesame set of main control chips, the same CPU, the same optical diskdrive and hard disk, the same PCI plug-in card and the same peripherals,that is, the same test operations are performed at the power-on of thecomputer system every day, and the user waits for the processing of thecomponents one by one by the system, thus the time of the user is wastedby repetitive operations, since the configuration of an ordinarycomputer is not changed frequently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for faststart-up of a computer, thereby the start-up time of the computer can bereduced significantly, the start-up efficiency of the computer can beenhanced and the waiting time can be saved for the user.

The technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

The method for computer start-up according to the present inventioncomprises:

performing fast test and initialization of each of the components of thesystem by the use of the configuration information of the internal andexternal components of the computer system and information required forexecuting initialization of each of the components, said information ispre-stored within the computer system.

Said information can be obtained in the test and initialization of eachof the components during the normal start-up procedure of the computersystem, or obtained by other ways and pre-stored in the computer. Forcomputer apparatus of fixed configuration, said information is alsofixed, for computers with configuration necessary to be changed, saidinformation obtained by testing is also changed.

An alternative method for computer start-up according to the presentinvention comprises:

-   -   (1) First test step for testing whether the current start-up is        in fast start-up mode or in normal start-up mode by the        computer, in which the start-up mode is preset by the user in a        setup step, and going to step (3) if the current start-up is in        fast start-up mode, or going to step (2) if it is in normal        start-up mode;    -   (2) Normal start-up step for performing a full test and        initialization of the system components;    -   (3) Second test step for testing whether the current start-up is        the first start-up after the setting of the fast set-up mode by        the computer, going to step (4) if so, otherwise going to step        (5);    -   (4) Normal start-up and storing step for executing the normal        start-up step to obtain the configuration information of the        internal and peripheral components of said computer system and        necessary information for initializing components, and storing        said information in the non-volatile of memory the computer;    -   (5) Fast start-up step for fast performing the test and        initialization of the system components by utilizing said        information obtained and stored in the computer in step (4).

In the present invention, the presetting of the current start-up modemay be executed by pressing a predetermined hot key on a keyboard by auser within a predetermined time period after the computer is powered orreset to enter a setup interface; and the computer is started up withthe start-up mode set in the previous presetting if the hot key is notpressed within the predetermined time period. The setup interface mayalso be entered by other manners than the use of a hot key, for example,the start-up mode setup interface may be entered by executing a setupsoftware at any time during the running of the computer.

The presetting step may also be executed by setting an option relatingto the start-up mode in the COMS setup interface, thus the start-up modecan be set by pressing a hot key for CMOS SETUP by the user. Thestart-up mode may also be set by employing other schemes. It is notnecessary for a user to set the start-up mode at each start-up. Aftereach time a start-up mode is set, the computer stars up according tothis mode until a new start-up mode is set.

In the present invention, the non-volatile memory used for storinginformation may be the system BIOS chip, that is, a software forimplementing the present invention can be integrated directly into theBIOS software and written into the system BIOS chip. Preferably, thenon-volatile memory chip or the BIOS chip may be a Flash chip ornon-dynamically refreshing RAM memory chip. A Flash chip is a high speederasable and alterable memory, and is also called a flash memory, whichis a non-volatile memory capable of being erased as a whole or inpartitions and reprogrammed in bytes.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, during the start-upof a computer, said first test step includes testing a high speedstart-up flag which is preset in the computer based on said setup step,when this flag indicates start-up according to the normal start-up step,the computer is started up according to the normal start-up procedure.

In an embodiment of the present invention, said second test stepincludes testing a first time start-up flag preset in the computer, whenthis first time start-up flag indicates that the current start-up is anon-first start-up after the step of setting computer to the faststart-up, the computer performs fast start-up by employing the datainformation stored in the non-volatile memory. The flag was set aftersaid setup step. This flag is set after said setup step. Generally, thisflag is set automatically by the computer, when the first start-up iscompleted, this flag is updated, and the current start-up can recognizedas non-first start-up based on this flag in the next start-up.

In an embodiment of the present invention, said normal start-up andstoring step in the start-up procedure comprises:

-   -   testing a plurality of configuration parameters of the        components;    -   writing the detected configuration parameters of the component        into the non-volatile memory chip on the mother board of the        computer and into the register of the controller of the        component.

In this embodiment, said fast start-up step comprises:

-   -   reading the configuration parameters of the component from the        non-volatile memory chip;    -   writing the read out configuration parameters into the registers        of the controller of the component;    -   performing necessary initialization processing for the        component.

In an embodiment of the present invention, said normal start-up andstoring step comprises:

-   -   reading the configuration parameters from the component, and        performing configuration based on the configuration parameters;    -   writing the configuration parameters into the non-volatile        memory chip.

In this embodiment, said fast start-up step comprises:

-   -   reading the configuration parameters of the component from the        non-volatile memory chip of the system;    -   configuring the component based on the configuration parameters.

In an embodiment of the present invention, in the start-up procedure ofthe computer, said normal start-up and storing step comprises:

-   -   testing the component in normal mode, i.e., performing tests on        the component performed in the normal start-up step;    -   determining the state of the component, and executing        corresponding initialization program based on its status;    -   storing the status flag bits of the component in the        non-volatile memory chip.

In this embodiment, said fast start-up step comprises:

-   -   reading the status flag bits from the non-volatile memory chip,        and invoking corresponding initialization program according to        said status flag bits;    -   executing the initialization program to initialize the        component.

Three procedures for performing test and/or initialization of thecomponents in a computer during start-up are mentioned in the above.Generally speaking, one of the three modes can be adopted by any of thecomponents in the computer. However, it may be more appropriate for somecomponents to adopt a certain one of those modes.

In an embodiment of the present invention, before the configurationparameters or initialization program flags of all the components arewritten into the non-volatile memory chip, they are collectively writtenin a segment of the memory of the computer, and they are written into asegment of the non-volatile memory chip when the configurationparameters or initialization program flags of all components have beenwritten into this segment of the memory.

In the present invention, said computer components may include a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a memory, a keyboard, a mouse, an IDE device, anSCSI device, a floppy disk drive, a serial communication port, aparallel communication port, a USB device, a sound card which is aplug-in card or is embedded in computer mother board, a networkinterface card, a display interface card and a modem. Therefore, thepresent invention is adapted to be used with any computer internal andperipheral components.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the method of the presentinvention is executed in the computer power-on self test (POST)procedure.

In the present invention, when a user sets the computer to use thenormal start-up mode, the computer is started up according to the normalstart-up step. Therefore, the method of the present invention can beenabled or disabled by the user of the computer, when the method isdisabled, the computer starts-up according to the normal start-up stepto perform a full test and initialization of each of the components ofthe system. For example, the function of the present invention can beenabled or disabled by a user in the CMOS SETUP at the power-on of thecomputer, in order to ensure that the normal start-up step can still beexecuted when the system configuration of the computer is altered.

The present invention is based on the practical situation where thecomputer housing is usually not opened and the configuration of thesystem hardware is usually not changed by the user, so that the datadetected and acquired at the first start-up are collected and stored,and can be directly and automatically employed at each start-up of thecomputer in the future. When a computer is started up by the use of themethod of the present invention for the first time, the test of each ofthe components of the computer system and the initialization of theperipherals are performed according to the normal start-up step, suchthat each of the components is changed from the initial state afterpower-on or resetting to the normal operating state; after thecompletion of the initialization of each of the components, all theinformation of the peripherals and the results of initialization arestored in the non-volatile memory, the BIOS boots the operating systemand hands over the control to the operating system. It is a main objectof the present invention to reduce the time from the power-on orresetting of the computer to the booting of the operating system. Atsucceeding start-up, the repetitive operations are no more performed bythe BIOS, and the test information and initialization information ofeach of the components in the system stored in the non-volatile memoryare directly utilized to achieve the fast test and initialization ofeach of the components, thereby entering into a “high way” of thestart-up of the computer. Therefore, in a power-on start-up after thefirst fast start-up after the computer is set to fast start-up by theuser, the whole POST procedure takes only about 4 or 5 seconds.

No compatibility requirement for the hardware and software is requiredby the present invention, thus the performance is stable and reliable.

The present invention brings about a revolutionary power-on mode for theuser to save large amount of start-up time and improve the start-upefficiency of computers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a basic flow chart of the start-up of a computer;

FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 b are flow charts of an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 3 is a table showing the comparison of the start-up times betweenthe normal start-up modes and fast start-up modes of computers of eightdifferent configurations according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In a normal start-up procedure, the start-up of a computer shall firstpass a self test procedure of the basic devices, which is called aPower-On Self Test procedure traditionally. This procedure is performedby the basic input/output system (BIOS) of the computer system. The BIOSperforms necessary test and initialization on each of the components ofthe system in turn, and converts their states from the undefined stateat time of power-on to the normal operating state by the use ofconventional algorithms, then the operating system is started, and thePOST procedure is completed. All the information required by thestart-up procedure (e.g., the POST procedure) are recorded automaticallyby the hardware per se in the present invention, stored in a dedicatedmemory space, and then invoked from the dedicated memory directly ateach time of start-up. Thus the original procedure of testing thehardware becomes a procedure of reading the memory, thereby the start-upspeed can be significantly enhanced. FIG. 1 illustrates a start-upprocedure of a computer. In the present invention, the test orinitialization procedure of each of the components is accelerated bysaving the information acquired in the test or initialization procedureof each of the components and invoking the saved information at the nextstart-up, as well as using corresponding parallel processing algorithms.

One most typical embodiment of the present invention is a fast start-uptechnique implemented on its product, i.e., the Legend computer, by theapplicant of this application. This technique provides a newfunctionality for a user to accelerate the start-up speed of thecomputer. As compared to the conventional BIOS start-up, it can realizefast start-up with ease, and save time for the user, and its function iseasy to be used. The CMOS SETUP can be entered by pressing the DEL keyduring the power-on self test procedure of the BIOS; if this BIOSsupports fast start-up, an option for setting the fast start-up will beprovided in the “Advanced BIOS Features”; if the fast start-up functionis desired, setting this option to “Enabled”. Then the computer isrestarted, the BIOS will save the current system information and willrealize fast start-up in the succeeding start-up by using saidinformation.

The technical solution of this embodiment is as follows.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the software forimplementing fast start-up is stored in the BIOS chip. As shown in FIG.2 a and FIG. 2 b, when the system is started up, i.e., in the POSTprocedure, the BIOS determines first whether the fast start-up functionis enabled or disabled. Generally, the user preferably sets faststart-up function to “Disable” before modifying the systemconfiguration, then shuts down the computer and modifies theconfiguration, makes the computer power-on again and sets the faststart-up function to “Enable”. When the fast start-up function isenabled, the BIOS determines again whether the start-up is first timestart-up after the fast start-up function is enabled, if not, the faststart-up is executed, if so, a normal start-up step is executed first,and the system will perform the initialization necessary forimplementing the fast start-up function. At the same time of completingtest and initialization of the system, all the data acquisitionnecessary for implementing fast start-up has been completed as well, theinitialization ends, and at each succeeding start-up, what is needed isonly to read out and utilize these data automatically.

The following is an example illustrating the test or initializationprocedure of each of the components in the embodiment of the presentinvention.

1. Example of the Test of the Memory.

Firstly, in the normal start-up step, the BIOS tests the current systemaccording to certain algorithms to obtain the parameters of the memoryinstalled in the current system, such as the size, type, installedlocation and etc of the memory. After the test of the memory, the formatof these parameters are converted to that of the contents of thecorresponding memory control registers, and these parameters are writteninto the registers of the memory controller. These converted contentsare stored, for example, in the BIOS chip on the mother board of thecomputer. These stored parameters are read out in the fast start-up stepand directly filled into the registers of the memory controller,corresponding and necessary processing is performed on the memory tomake it achieve the normal operating state, so as to realize fast testof the memory. For example, if it is detected that the current start-upis first time start-up after the setting of the computer to the faststart-up step, a plurality of configuration parameters of the memory aredetected first, for example, the size, type and installation location ofthe memory; then the detected configuration parameters of the memory arewritten into the BIOS chip on the mother board of the computer, andwritten into the registers in the controller of the component. If it isdetected that the current start-up is not first time start-up after thecomputer is set to the fast start-up step, for example, the second timestart-up, then the stored memory configuration parameters are read outfrom the BIOS chip first; and then the read configuration parameters arewritten into the registers in the memory controller for performingnecessary processing of the memory.

2. Example of Hard Disk Test.

The initialization of a hard disk is performed by configuring thecontrol logic of the hard disk based on the type, size and otherhardware features thereof. First, the BIOS reads out a parameter listfrom each hard disk (the parameter list of each hard disk contains 256words, each word has its respective meaning, and denotes the hardwarefeatures of the hard disk). The BIOS analyzes the read parameters,converts the format of each of the parameters to that of the register ofthe hard disk control logic, and fills them into the registers. The BIOSsaves the parameter lists read from the hard disk (a empty list is savedwhen no hard disk exists). During fast start-up, no parameters is readfrom the hard disk, but the saved parameter list is directly read outand is analyzed, then the format of each of the parameters is convertedinto that of the register of the hard disk control logic, and theseconverted parameters are filled into the register. For example, if it isdefected by the computer that the current start-up is first timestart-up after the computer is set to the fast start-up step, theconfiguration parameter are read out from the hard disk first andwritten into the BIOS chip; these parameters can be transferred to theFLASH memory via the internal memory; and the hard disk is configuredbased on these configuration parameters. If it is detected that thecurrent start-up is not first time start-up after the computer is set tothe fast start-up procedure, the configuration parameters are read outfrom the BIOS chip first and placed into the memory; then the hard diskis configured based on the read configuration parameters. Alternatively,the read configuration parameters may be directly written into theregisters in the hard disk controller.

3. Example of Mouse Test.

The test of a mouse is as follows: Standard test is performed on themouse first, and in the test, several situations may occur, operation 1may be performed in the situation of status 1 of the mouse (e.g., theexecution of the initialization program 1), operation 2 may be performedin the situation of status 2, and operation 3 may be performed in status3. Flag bits of different mouse programs may be saved according todifferent situations during the start-up of the computer according tothe present invention (e.g., saving 1, 2 and 3 as flag bits of themouse). The flag bit of the mouse is read out during the fast start-up.If it is 1, operation 1 is performed, if it is 2, operation 2 isperformed and if it is 3, operation 3 is performed, and the operation oftesting the status of the mouse will not be performed. For example, ifit is detected that the current start-up is first time start-up afterthe computer is set to the fast start-up step, standard test isperformed on the mouse; the status of the mouse is determined and thestatus flag bits are stored into the BIOS chip. If it is detected thatthe current start-up is not first time start-up after the computer isset to the fast start-up step, for example, second time start-up, thestatus flag bits of the mouse are read out from the BIOS chip first, andcorresponding initialization program is invoked based on the flag; thenthat initialization program is executed to initialize the mouse.

Fast start-up steps of other components are similar to theabove-mentioned examples, and will not be detailed.

FIG. 3 is a table showing the comparison of the start-up times betweenthe start-up of normal mode and the start-up of fast mode in thecomputers of eight different configurations according to the embodimentof the present invention. The present invention can be implemented inthe procedures of power-on start (cold start), start by pressing “RESET”key, and resetting start by keyboard (warm start). If can be seen thatthe time spent in the fast start-up steps in this embodiment issignificantly less than that spent in the normal start-up steps nomatter which start-up mode is used, especially in “cold start bypressing Power ON” and “warm start by pressing Reset key”. The mainreason is that many components and devices such as DIMM and SIO on themother board will be tested one by one during the normal mode, thus thetest spends a long time and a user has to wait for. In the fast start-upmethod of this embodiment, the test speed of these components can besignificantly accelerated, and the test is both rapid and stable. Inaddition, the embodiment of the present invention also behavessatisfactorily in warm start-up. The technical effect of the presentinvention is subject to certain degree of limitation when display cardshaving long initialization time are employed, the latency time fortesting peripherals such as hard disk and optical disk drive may alsoaffect technical effects of the present invention.

Although it is very complicated to implement the functions of thepresent invention, it is very easy for a user to use them. A faststart-up can be performed conveniently by setting an on-off option inthe CMOS SETUP. The user is only required to enter into CMOS SETUP, setthe corresponding “fast start-up function” option to “Enabled”, save thesetting and restart the computer, then the computer automaticallyperforms the initialization operation for implementing the faststart-up. After the completion of this start-up, a message will bedisplayed on a display screen to indicate that the fast start-upfunction has been successfully initialized, and the succeeding systemstart-up will be a wonderful fast start-up which reduces the start-uptime of the computer from the traditionally more than 20 seconds or atleast more than 10 seconds to 3–5 seconds. When a user needs to changethe configuration of the computer or upgrade it, for example, replacinga hard disk, adding another network card, or upgrading a modem card,what is needed to do before upgrading is to enter the CMOS SETUP firstto set the “fast start-up function” to “Disabled”, save the setting andshut down the computer; then the upgrading of hardware is carried out;and this option is set to “Enabled” again after the completion of theupgrading, then the user can comfortably enjoy the convenience broughtabout by the fast start-up in the new configuration.

In this embodiment, the “fast start-up function” shall be set to“Disabled” before a user opens the computer housing and changes theconfiguration of the computer, and then this function is set to“Enabled” again after the configuration is changed and the computer ispowered on, there will be no problem to use the fast start-up functionin this way. However, if in the case where the “fast start-up function”is set to “Enabled”, the computer is shut down, the computer housing isopened and the memory chips are changed, then when the computer isstarted again, the problem of being unable to restart the computer orthe capacity of the detected memory being inconsistent with that ofmounted memory on the mother board is possible to occur due to theinconsistency of the information required by fast start-up and stored inthe BIOS chip with the current configuration of the computer. In thepresent embodiment, if the case that the computer is unable to restartis repeated for three times or more, the system will be automaticallystarted by employing non-fast start-up mode in order to deal with thisproblem, and the configuration of the computer is test again, then thesucceeding fast start-up will be performed normally. If the computer canstart but the capacity of the detected memory is inconsistent with thatof the actual memory, the system will operate abnormally, and problemsof dead halt of the computer and etc will occur. In such a case, theuser shall set the “fast start-up function” in the CMOS SETUP to“Disabled”, restart the computer and set it to “Enabled” again, then thesystem will operate normally.

1. A computer start-up method comprising: (1) first test step fortesting whether a current start-up mode preset by a user is a faststart-up mode or a normal start-up mode, and going to step (3) if thecurrent start-up mode is a fast start-up mode, or going to step (2) ifit is a normal start-up mode; (2) normal start-up step for performing acomplete test and initialization of the components of the computersystem; (3) second test step for testing whether the current start-up isthe first time start-up after the setting of the fast start-up mode, andgoing to step (4) if the current start-up is the first time start-upafter the setting of the fast start-up mode, otherwise going to step(5); (4) normal start-up and storing step for executing the normalstart-up step to acquire configuration information of internal andperipheral components of said computer system and information requiredfor initializing the components, and storing said information in anon-volatile memory of the computer; and (5) fast start-up step for fastimplementing the test and initialization of the system components by theuse of said information acquired and stored in the computer in step (4).2. A computer start-up method comprising: (1) first test step fortesting whether a current start-up mode preset by a user is a faststart-up mode or a normal start-up mode, and going to step (3) if thecurrent start-up mode is a fast start-up mode, or going to step (2) ifit is a normal start-up mode; (2) normal start-up step for performing acomplete test and initialization of the components of the computersystem; (3) second test step for testing whether the current start-up isthe first time start-up after the setting of the fast start-up mode, andgoing to step (4) if the current start-up is the first time start-upafter the setting of the fast start-up mode, otherwise going to step(5); (4) normal start-up and storing step for executing the normalstart-up step to acquire configuration information of internal andperipheral components of said computer system and information requiredfor initializing the components, and storing said information in anon-volatile memory of the computer; and (5) fast start-up step for fastimplementing the test and initialization of the system components by theuse of said information acquired and stored in the computer in step (4),wherein the presetting of the current start-up mode is executed bypressing a predetermined hot key on a keyboard by a user within apredetermined time period after the computer is powered or reset; andthe computer is started up with the start-up mode set in the previouspresetting if the hot key is not pressed within the predetermined timeperiod.
 3. The computer start-up method according to claim 1, whereinsaid first test step comprises testing a fast start-up flag preset inthe computer based on said setting step.
 4. The computer start-up methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said second test step comprises testing afirst time start-up flag preset in the computer, and the flag being setafter said setting step.
 5. A computer start-up method comprising: (1)first test step for testing whether a current start-up mode preset by auser is a fast start-up mode or a normal start-up mode, and going tostep (3) if the current start-up mode is a fast start-up mode, or goingto step (2) if it is a normal start-up mode; (2) normal start-up stepfor performing a complete test and initialization of the components ofthe computer system; (3) second test step for testing whether thecurrent start-up is the first time start-up after the setting of thefast start-up mode, and going to step (4) if the current start-up is thefirst time start-up after the setting of the fast start-up mode,otherwise going to step (5); (4) normal start-up and storing step forexecuting the normal start-up step to acquire configuration informationof internal and peripheral components of said computer system andinformation required for initializing the components, and storing saidinformation in a non-volatile memory of the computer; and (5) faststart-up step for fast implementing the test and initialization of thesystem components by the use of said information acquired and stored inthe computer in step (4), wherein the non-volatile memory for storingthe information is a system BIOS chip.
 6. The computer start-up methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory for storing theinformation is a FLASH chip or a non-dynamically refreshing RAM chip. 7.The computer start-up method according to claim 1, said normal start-upand storing step comprising steps of: detecting a plurality ofconfiguration parameters of the components; and writing the detectedconfiguration parameters of the components into the non-volatile memoryon the mother board of the computer, and writing the detectedconfiguration parameters of the components into the register in thecontroller of the component.
 8. The computer start-up method accordingto claim 7, said fast start-up step comprising: reading theconfiguration parameters of the component from the non-volatile memory;writing the read configuration parameters into the register in thecontroller of the component; and performing necessary initializationprocessing of the component.
 9. The computer start-up method accordingto claim 1, said fast start-up step comprising: reading theconfiguration parameters of the component from the non-volatile memory;writing the read configuration parameters into the register in thecontroller of the component; and performing necessary initializationprocessing of the component.
 10. The computer start-up method accordingto claim 1, said normal start-up and storing step comprising: readingthe configuration parameters from a component and configuring thecomponent based on the configuration parameters; and writing theconfiguration parameters into the non-volatile memory.
 11. The computerstart-up method according to claim 10, said fast start-up stepcomprising steps of: reading the configuration parameters of a componentfrom the non-volatile memory of the system; and configuring thecomponent based on the configuration parameters.
 12. The computerstart-up method according to claim 1, said fast start-up step comprisingsteps of: reading the configuration parameters of a component from thenon-volatile memory of the system; and configuring the component basedon the configuration parameters.
 13. The computer start-up methodaccording to claim 1, said normal start-up and storing step comprising:performing standard test on the component; determining the status of thecomponent, and executing corresponding initialization program based onthe status thereof and storing the status flag bits of the component andwriting them into the non-volatile memory.
 14. The computer start-upmethod according to claim 13, said fast start-up step comprising:reading the status flag bits of the component from the non-volatilememory, and invoking corresponding initialization program according tothe status flag bits; and initializing the component by executing theinitialization program.
 15. The computer start-up method according toclaim 1, said fast start-up step comprising: reading the status flagbits of the component from the non-volatile memory, and invokingcorresponding initialization program according to the status flag bits;and initializing the component by executing the initialization program.16. The computer start-up method according to claim 1, wherein theconfiguration information or the information necessary forinitialization of all the components are collectively written into asegment of the memory of the computer before being written into thenon-volatile memory, and said information is collectively written into asegment in the non-volatile memory after the configuration parameters orinitialization program flag of all the components having been writteninto this segment of the memory.
 17. The computer start-up methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the components of said computer includes acentral processing unit (CPU), a memory, a keyboard, a mouse, an IDEdevice, an SCSI device, floppy disk drives, a serial communication port,a parallel communication port, a USB device, external plug-in orcomputer mother board embedded sound interface card, a network interfacecard, a display interface card and a modem.
 18. The computer start-upmethod according to claim 1, wherein the method is executed during thepower-on self test procedure of the computer.